Site minier des Brandes, Medieval archaeological site near Alpe d'Huez, France
Site minier des Brandes is a medieval mining settlement at 1800 meters altitude in the French Alps near Alpe d'Huez, with ruins of a church, castle structures, and around 80 residential buildings. The location shows a complete medieval community layout with distinct zones for ore extraction, ore processing, and residential areas.
The settlement began in the 12th century when silver mining became profitable at this altitude under the control of the Lord of Dauphiné. It declined in the 14th century as mining conditions became less economically viable in this location.
The settlement reveals how a complete community organized itself high in the mountains around shared mining work. Walking through the site, you can see how homes clustered around the church and central work areas, showing how daily life and labor were woven together.
The site is freely accessible with information panels marking the different areas and structures you will encounter. Spring through autumn is the best time to visit when mountain weather is most stable and the terrain is easiest to explore.
Visible stone channels and basins for washing silver ore reveal the engineering solutions miners developed to work at this extreme altitude. These water management features rank among the oldest of their kind in Europe.
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